insulin and pumps

[Nana]

Hey!

I have a question... Which insulin do you use for your insulin pump? And did you ever change it and why?

I use Humalog and I think that it doesn't work as it should. My doctor said, that I should use 1 unit for 15 carbs, but I have to take 1 unit for 7 carbs or my blood sugar is too high after a meal (well, even with 1 unit for 7 carbs it is usually too high). Do you think it would be better to change insulin and try with an other one?

Thanks!

[Amy C.]

You could try Novalog, but I expect that the 1:15 ratio suggested by your endo does not work for you. Not everyone fits in this box of using 1:15. My son uses a ratio of 1:10 and sometimes 1:6. Other folks use 1:25 or 1:30.

Just point out to your endo that this ratio doesn't work for you and show when you use more insulin, the sugars are better.

This is assuming that your basals are correct...

[Nana]

Yeah, I checked my basals and they are ok. I have an appointment end of the month and I would just like to hear some suggestions if maybe changing the insulin would help me get my sugars in better order. Thanks :)

[Rob]

If your basals are ok, then i'd agree with Amy C. and say that you insulin to carb ratio needs some adjusting. Ratios very greatly from person to person, and can even be different at different times of the day. Talk to you doc at your appointment and let him know it's not working, and suggest what you think would be a good ratio to try out. Remember, no one knows you better than you, so if you think something isn't working, change it.

With regards to changing insulin, I've swapped between humalog and novorapid depending what I have on hand, and for me hasn't made any significent difference in blood sugar levels.

[nantomsuethom]

Thomas was switched from Humalog to Novolog. We found that his sites last longer and his bgs were a little better.
Switching from one to the other will not affect your bolus ratios though.
Thomas' ratios are 1:6 for breakfast and lunch and 1:8 for dinner.

[faithe113001]

I'm on Novalog for my pump, and I used to use Humalog, I was forced to switch because my insurance decided it didn't want to cover it anymore.

I agree, your carb ratio probably need some work. Don't be afraid to play with them...that's the only way you'll ever find out if they work!

[munchkingirl]

I am also on novolog - like faith I was also forced to switch as my insurance co wouldn't cover humalog anymore either. But I must say - that I have liked novolog much better than humalog, though I never had the option of using humalog wiht my pump.

[AmberO]

My daughter uses Novalog. We have different ratios too. At breakfast it's 1:10 at snacks, lunch and bedtime it's 1:20. At dinner time it's 1:15. If you feel your basal rates are correct, then it's just a matter of changing the bolus ratio. :)

She tends to go super high after breakfast, and changing it to 1:10 has made a huge difference. Another alternative would be to bolus 0.5 or maybe 1.0 depending on your glucose to catch that high with some insulin before you eat but definately talk to your Endo first!

[kipper]

Austin's Endo is switching him from humalog to novalog something about the way they think it works in the pump. They siad all their pump patients have been put on novalog for fewer problems